NCJ Number
61746
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE SURGEON'S ROOM, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES ARE DESCRIBED; FURNITURE REQUIREMENTS, HYGIENE FACILITIES, AND DIAGNOSTIC AIDS ARE SPECIFIED AND A LAYOUT DIAGRAM IS INCLUDED.
Abstract
COMPETENT CLINICAL FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO PERFORM IN POOR WORKING CONDITIONS. THE MODERN POLICE SURGEON REQUIRES CLEAN, WELL-LIT, ADEQUATELY HEATED AND WELL-EQUIPPED PREMISES, RESERVED SOLELY FOR EXAMINATIONS. THE DOOR OF THE SURGEON'S ROOM MUST REMAIN LOCKED TO ENSURE CONFIDENTIALITY AND EQUIPMENT SECURITY. MINIMUM ROOM DIMENSIONS SHOULD BE 12 BY 10 FEET, AND A MAXIMUM OF FIVE PERSONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE ROOM AT ANY TIME. THE ROOM SHOULD INCLUDE A MINIMUM OF LOOSE OBJECTS, ADEQUATE WORKING SURFACES, A CLOTHES CUPBOARD, COAT RACK, STANDARD EXAMINATION COUCH, SCREEN, BLANKETS, A DESK, THREE CHAIRS, AND A TOILET WITH WASHBASIN. INSTRUMENTS AND REAGENTS SHOULD BE LOCATED IN A SEPARATE SIDE ROOM WHICH REMAINS LOCKED. GENERAL LIGHTING SHOULD BE 100 TO 120 FOOT-CANDLES AT WORKING SURFACE LEVEL. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT EQUIPMENT AND A REFRIGERATOR FOR FORENSIC SPECIMENS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. ROOM TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AT 70 DEGREES F. IN ADDITION, A CLOTHES DRYING METHOD IS REQUIRED, ESPECIALLY FOR SUSPECT CLOTHING IN CASES OF ASSAULT. THE POLICE SURGEON'S EQUIPMENT SHOULD INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, AIRWAYS, BOWLS, AURISCOPE, CAMERA, ELECTRIC STERILIZER, FORCEPS, KIDNEY DISHES, PROCTOSCOPE, SCISSORS, THERMOMETERS, AND POCKET AND HAND TORCHES. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIMENS SHOULD INCLUDE FILTER PAPERS, PIPETTES, BOTTLES, JARS, AND MICROSCOPE SLIDES. REAGENTS SHOULD INCLUDE LABSTIX, PHENISTIX, DEXTROSTIX, ACID PHOSPHATE TEST PAPERS, AND IMIPRAMINE REAGENT. DRESSINGS AND APPLIANCES, SUCH AS STERILIZED DRESSINGS, SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE. STORAGE OF DRUGS IN THE POLICE STATION IS NOT ADVISED. CHARTS AND A DIAGRAM ARE INCLUDED IN THE CHAPTER. (LWM)